The Awareness Center closed. We operated from April 30, 1999 - April 30, 2014. This site is being provided for educational & historical purposes.
We were the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault (JCASA); and were dedicated to ending sexual violence in Jewish communities globally. We did our best to operate as the make a wish foundation for Jewish survivors of sex crimes. In the past we offered a clearinghouse of information, resources, support and advocacy.

Sunday, February 09, 2003

Rabbis Mandated Reporters?

I need your help with something. Various states across our nation (The
USA) are in the process of redefining many laws that have to do with
childhood sexual abuse. One of those laws is regarding members of the
clergy being mandated reporters.

If you are not aware, a mandated reporter is someone who HAS to make
hotline reports to state child protection agencies when they SUSPECT a
child is being abused and/or neglected. If they don't they will be
fined, loose licenses, and depending on the state face criminal
charges. Investigating the allegations is left up to highly skilled and
trained law enforcement officers and child protection workers.

Recently various state legislators have contacting The Awareness Center
asking for help. I want to offer the opportunity to you to help make a
difference. We need your help to stop childhood sexual abuse. We need
your help in change the legal definition of who is a mandated reporter,
so that members of the clergy (Rabbis, Cantors and other trusted
officials) are included. We also need you to write that if someone is
mandated to report, doesn't report they will be held accountable.

If you believe that Rabbis along with other clergy members should be
required by law, to be mandated reporters please take the time and type a
letter. If you can always include halacha to express yourself in your
letters (as long as it is in simple English, and referenced). In your
letter include your legal name, address, and signature. Snail mail the
letter to me at:

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Survivors ARE Heroes!

The Awareness Center believes ALL survivors of sex crimes should be given yellow ribbons to wear proudly.

Survivors of sexual violence (as adults and/or as a child) are just as deserving of a yellow ribbon as the men and women of our armed forces, who have been held captive as hostages or prisoners of war.

Survivors of sexual violence have been forced to learn how to survive, being held captive not by foreigners, but mostly by their own family members, teachers, camp counselors, coaches babysitters, rabbis, cantors or other trusted authority figures.

For these reasons ALL survivors of sexual violence should be seen as heroes!